Tennis No.2, Naomi Osaka has on Monday announced that she was withdrawing from the French Open tournament following her refusal to address the media and subsequently being fined. “The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Osaka wrote on Twitter.
Naomi Osaka is now on course to defend the US Open Grand Slam title she won last year after ending Serena Williams' bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam. The 23-year-old will face 22nd seed American Jennifer Brady for the title on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal has won his 13th French Open singles title and 20th Grand Slam tournament by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets and he is now on tie with Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
Novak Djokovic was surprisingly disqualified from the US Open on Sunday for striking a female lines official in the throat with the tennis ball. The world number one hit the ball in disgust after he went 5-6 down against the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. It appeared Djokovic was looking away from the office when he struck the ball with considerable force. She could be heard gasping and coughing on the tennis court upon the impact of the ball on her throat.
The organisers of the French Open tennis tournament have confirmed that the tournament has been postponed for about four months because of the coronavirus pandemic. It will now be played in September as against the earlier schedule date in May. The French tennis federation announced the decision Tuesday.
Nigerian trio Olufunke Oshonaike, Olajide Omotayo and Edem Offiong has clinched tickets in table tennis for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
